Issue Articles
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@4410 Ten Years Later
Menzie Pittman | September 2023Small Business Matters | September 8, 2023In order for an independent music store to compete in today’s marketplace successfully, it must stand out from the crowd. Read More... -
A Steady Burn: Ukulele Sales in 2023
Christian Wissmuller | RoundtableSeptember 2023 | September 8, 2023Ukulele sales may not be quite as white-hot as a few years back, but it’s not as if the diminutive instruments have fallen out of favor – far from it! Read More... -
2023 Holiday Buying Guide
Christian Wissmuller | September 2023Special Report | September 8, 2023 New and Notable Gear to Stock Up Preparation for the Upcoming Holiday Season Read More... -
The Undeniable Power of ‘Live’
Christian Wissmuller | EditorialSeptember 2023 | September 8, 2023Per a recently published report from The Brainy Insights (a somewhat silly name, I’ll grant you, but a trusted resource), the global MI market is poised to expand from $11.8 billion in 2022 to $16.17 billion by 2032, at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 3.2 percent during the next decade. That healthy growth […] Read More... -
Leadership Styles
Menzie Pittman | ArchivesAugust 2023Small Business Matters | August 9, 2023Whether we like it or not, as owners and managers, department heads and/or music teachers, our manner and style of leadership greatly determines its effectiveness. Read More... -
What Does ‘Back to School’ Mean for MI Retail in 2023?: Music Dealers Sound Off on the Changing Nature of Doing Business With Student Players
Christian Wissmuller | ArchivesAugust 2023Survey | August 9, 2023Long a crucial time of year that contributes significantly to the annual sales of MI retailers, the nature of “Back to School season” has changed significantly with the ever-increasing reach of e-commerce, online “research,” and big box competition. Read More... -
Keeping Time with Denver’s Rupp’s Drums
Christian Wissmuller | ArchivesAugust 2023Retail | August 9, 2023In late October of last year, Alex Simpson, owner of independent drum retailer Rupp’s Drums, closed on the purchase of 2045 S Holly St. in Denver, the property the MI retailer had been leasing for nearly 30 years. Read More... -
Succeed by Going Above and Beyond
Christian Wissmuller | ArchivesAugust 2023Editorial | August 9, 2023This issue of MMR – much like many August (sometimes July!) editions in my tenure with the magazine – focuses on the relationship between MI retailers and suppliers with area music students, schools, and music programs. Read More... -
The Real ‘Influencers’: Tapping Into the Purchasing Power of Music Educators
Christian Wissmuller | ArchivesAugust 2023Spotlight | August 9, 2023Surely all readers of MMR – reps for MI brands, individual retailers, administrators – recognize that young and new music students are a key engine driving our industry. Read More... -
Forging Partnerships, Rather Than Merely Conducting Business
Christian Wissmuller | EditorialJuly 2023 | July 11, 2023“We’re here to be your friends and support you as best as we can, and it’s a very collaborative sort of journey rather than something that’s very top-down,” says Scott Marquart of Nashville-based Stringjoy in this issue’s cover feature (page 10) when discussing his company’s attitude towards partnerships with MI retailers. His VP of global […] Read More... -
Giving Back
Menzie Pittman | July 2023Small Business Matters | July 11, 2023Recently I was invited to attend an awards ceremony for a professional friend in a different field of work than the arts. Read More... -
Investing in Employee Education at Sweetwater: Jeff Radke Discusses How Sweetwater University is a Cornerstone of the ‘Sweetwater Difference’
Christian Wissmuller | July 2023Retail | July 11, 2023Initially formed nearly 25 years ago, Sweetwater University has evolved from a small group study session into an immersive, 13-week training initiative where employees receive in-depth education on all aspects of how to be true “Sales Engineers.” Read More...
